Revolving centerpiece for dining-tables



No. 6ll,739. Patented Oct. 4, I898.

W.- H: PEASE; REVOLVING CENTEBPIEC E FOR DINING TABLES.

(Applicatiun filed Dec. 23, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

IVILLIAM H. PEASE, OF NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA.

REVOLVING CENTERPIECE FOR DINING-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,739, dated O tober 4, 1898.

Application filed December 23, 1897. Serial No. 663,212. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PEASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niobrara, in the county of Knox and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Centerpieces for Dining-Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fu1l,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to a revolving centerpiece for dining-tables, the object being to provide convenient sel f-waitin g means whereby the annoyance and confusion incident to the passing around of dishes is in a large measure avoided. I am aware that the broad idea of a rotary or revolving centerpiece in this connection has been disclosed in a number of prior patents, and myinvention merely aims to embody this idea in a more practical and serviceable form than has heretofore been done. I propose to provide such an ar rangement that the rotating trays or shelves of the device may be readily removed with the dishes upon them, so as to constitute means for carrying the dishes to and from the table. I also propose to employ a knockdown construction of the entire device, so that its several parts can be readily disengaged and all compacted to facilitate shipment and storing of the article and also carrying about of the same, as when used for picnicking purposes or the like.

With the above-stated objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,which are fully described hereinafter, the essential features being recitedin the appended claims.

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate a form of embodiment of the invention, and of said drawings-- section on a larger scale than it appears in Fig. 1.

In the drawings the letter ct designates the base of the device, which may be of any suitable construction, but preferably comprises a number of arms radiating from a central boss,

which is formed with a circular aperture to receive the lower reduced end I) of a standard I). The latter is designed to fit into the base tightly enough to prevent relative movement between these parts when in use, and at some distance above the base said standard is formed with a shoulder 19 and again at'some distance above the shoulder 19 with another shoulder 22 A ring or annular bearing-piece c embraces the standard I) and rests upon the top of the base a, immediately around said standard, and upon this bearing-piece rests a disk d, which loosely embraces the standard and is formed in its upper side with a series of sockets d, preferably inclined inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2.

The letter e designates a circular tray or sheet,which is centrally apertured to fit loosely over the reduced portion of the standard 1), extending upward from the shoulder b", said tray resting upon the said shoulder and being formed in its under side with a series of sockets 6, preferably inclined outwardly. The tray 6 and the disk d are connected by a series of props or braces f, which are fitted at their ends into the sockets d and 2, so as to effectively connect the tray and disk, at the same time permitting the disengagement of parts when desired. The structure composed of the disk d, the prop f, and the tray 6 is free to revolve upon the standard, and the tray is preferably provided with a number of upstanding knobs g at its margin, by means of which it can be conveniently turned by persons seated about the table upon which the deviceis mounted.

A second circular tray it, somewhat smaller than the trays, is centrally apertured to fitloosely over the upper reduced end of the standard I) and rest upon the shoulder b the said upper tray being preferably formed with a central sleeve h to embrace the standard. This second tray h is also free to rotate upon the standard, and it will be noted that it is entirely independent of the other tray in this respect. vantage, in that it provides for manipulation of the trays by more than one person at a time in the event that such persons should be simultaneously seized with a desire to help themselves from different dishes on the trays. The above-described self-waiting device is This feature is of considerable ad- IOO adapted to be set upon a table, as represented in Fig. 1, and will have snflicient aggregate weight to maintain its position; but of course it could be fastened to the table, if desired.

It will be seen that by the construction of self-waiting device or revolving centerpiece above described provision is made for the ready removal of the trays which hold the dishes, so that a large number of dishes can be carried to and from the table on these trays, which are simply lifted off of the standards when it is desired to remove the dishes from the table.

The device is also useful in washing dishes, as a person seated at one side of the table can place the dishes as they are washed upon the lower tray and another person seated at the opposite side of the table can bring the dishes around as they are washed and wipe the same and then place them upon the upper tray, where they can remain until the next meal or be taken away by lifting this upper tray off the standard.

It will thus be seen that the objects primarily stated are effectively accomplished by the above-described construction, which, however, is susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a revolving knockdown centerpiece for tables, the combination of a suitable base adapted to rest upon the table-top, a stand ard rising therefrom, a disk fitting loosely on said standard and having a series of sockets in its upper side, a tray centrally apertured to loosely embrace the standard and having a series of sockets in its underside, and connecting-props between the said tray and the disk and fitting in the sockets thereof.

2. In a knockdown centerpiece for tables, the combination of a suitable base, a standard rising therefrom and shouldered at a plurality of points between portions/3f different diameters, removable rotatable trays loosely embracing said standard and resting against said shoulders respectively, a disk loosely embraciu g the lower part of the standard,and props between said disk and the lower tray and removably engaged with the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM H. PEASE.

Witnesses:

R. H. HARRIS, E. G. MILLER. 

